Antiskidding device for wheel-tires.



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ElEilllH G. WEED, F COOKSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

AN'IISKIDDING DEVICE FOR WHEEL-TIRES.

' I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jail 14, 1919.

application filed January 15. 1917. Serial No. 142,483.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, SETH G. Wnno, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cooksville, in the qounty of McLean and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antiskiddi'ngDevices for WheeLTir-es, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved antiskidding device for wheeltires, and has for its primary. object to provide an article of thischaracterof the chain type provided with means upon. the transverse orcross chains, whereby the wheel will exert the requisite tractive effortand lateral or sidewise skidding of the wheel will also be effectivelyprevented.

l-it isflanother and more particular object of i'hewinvention to providea chain armor for} wehicle tires including spaced, transverse treadchains, and anti-skidding lugs arranged upon each of the chains anddisposed in convergent relation toward the cen- A ter of the peripheralface of the tire, where by said lugs will engage the road surface insuch manner as to prevent slipping or skidding of the wheel. ,7

It is another object of my invention to provide an antiskidding chainarmor for wheel tires wherein the transverse tread chains each consistsof a series of rectangular, open links flexibly connected to each other,and anti-skidding lugs formed upon the inner adjacent links andpreventing contact of the flexible connection between the links with theroad surface.

it is also another object of my invention to provide a tread chain ofsuch construction that sand or gravel will not be retained be tween-thechain links and the tread surface of the tire, and to further provideseparate chain connections between the ends of the tread chains at eachside of the wheel.

With the above and. other objects in view,

my invention consists in the novel features and arranger,

' which extend over the inner surfaces of the 'nnttmg the longitudinalbars of the links the central line of the 8 with the road surface,

:2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the wheel;.and 1 1' 1g. 3 is anenlarged perspective view of one of the tread chains.

Referring in detail to the drawin 5 designates a series of transversetrea chains periphery and upon opposite sides of the tire casing. Eachof these chains consists of end links 6 and a. pair of intermediatelinks 7. These links are longitudinally curved to conform to thecurvature of the wheel t'irefaud they are connected to each other by themetal sleeves or loops 8; The tread chain'links areof open constructionor. lllUtllGlWVOldS, each llllk consists of a smgleinetal rod or barbent or'cast in rectangular fornn. Upon the free ends of the links 6,hooks 9 are formed and project laterally from the link infrelativelyopposite directions. The opposed ends of the links (land 7 are slightlybent or curved outwardly, as at 6', so that the inner sides of theloops8 connecting the links,

will'be disposed in the sauna plane with the link bars, thus ertoclosely contact throughout their length with the periphery of the tire.To these hooks 9 the terminal links sections 10 are connected.

Upon, the intermediate links 7 of each tread chain, the diagonallydisposed, antiskidding plates or lugs 11 are formed. These plates aredisposed on relatively op; posite, oblique lines and converge towardperiphery of the tire. The plates, at their converging or adjacent ends,are relatively narrow, and gradually increase in width toward theiropposite ends and then again rapidly decrease in width, as clearly shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings. It will be observed that; the plates are ofsuch width as to prevent frictional engagement of the central linkconnecting sleeve thus preventing wear upon said sleeve and possiblebreakage thereof. I

In applying the anti-skidding armor to the wheel tire, the transversetread chains are disposed across the 'tire'with the narrower ends ofthelug's or plates 11 extending forwardly or in the direction ofrotation;

of the side chain of the Wheel that y Will first. engag the groundsurface. In the travel of the vehicle over muddy or sandy stretches of,

road, these converging plates or lugs will afford the necessary tractivepurchase for volve, thereby stalling the machine. When the wheel is upona wet or i'cy road surface, the narrow ends of the plates 11 will engageand grip into the road surface, so that any tendency of the wheel toskid or slip laterally will tend to shift the lug on the'side of thetread chain corresponding to the dilodged\and quickly sift between thebars of for wheel tires.

obviatin undue wear upon the latter. The

the linkand the periphery of the tire, thus connecti of the lugs orplates to the. link bars is integrally formed in the casting of thelinks. \xThus, a very strong and durable construction is obtalned.

Fi-om the foregoing description, taken in 7 connection with theaccompanying drawing,

it will be seen that I have devised a very simple; and effectiveanti-skidding device The armor may be very the wheel, so that the wheelwill not idly reground engaging edge at right easily and quickly appliedto the tire or removed therefrom. ,The tread chains carrying theconverging lugs are preferably arranged seven or eight inches apart, butit will be understood that a greater or less number of these treadchains can be provided as desired. The device isalso susceptible of manyother modifiglgi'ns inthe form, proportion and arrangement of itsseveral detail parts and I, therefore, reserve its en thih privilege ofresorting mate elranges" as may be fairly embo ied within the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim andsecure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A tread grip for wheel tires consisting of flexibly connected, opencentered links, each of said links having an obliquely disposed road enaging lug integrally formed at its ends wit the respective side portionsof the link, the lugs on the adjacent links converging toward the centerof the tire tread in the direction of forward. rotation of the wheel.

2.. As an improved article of manufacture, an opencentered one piecetread 'inember for wheel tires having an obliquely disposed road.engaging traction lug bridging the open centerof said member andintegrally connecting opposite portions thereof.

3. As an improved article of manufacture,

to all such 1e itian open centered one piece tread link for wheel tiresof elongated rectangular form and having a longitudinal tapering roadengaging traction lug integrally connected at nk s to the opposite sideportions of the li 4. A tread chain for wheel tires consisting of aplurality of longitudinally curved links having spaced side bars, theends of the links at their juncture with the side bars being bent orcurved outwardly, and metal loops flexibly connecting theoutwardly-turned ends of the links and having their inner faces disposedin the same plane as the inner concave faces of the link bars, wherebythe latter will closely engage upon the' periphery of the wheel tirethroughout their length.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

SETH e. WEED.

' Witnesses:

' LEAH WEED,

J UDSON SwALLow.

